The Battle for Donbas to be Violent. Putin Dreams of a 9 May Parade in Kyiv

April 20, 2022

The battle for Donbas, for which Putin’s army is now preparing, can be truly large-scale. We are talking about the several-week perspective because the date of 9 May is very important for the dictator. He intends to celebrate the Victory Day with a military parade in Kyiv. Instead, a powerful counterattack is being prepared by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

The capabilities of the Russian army are often exaggerated. In particular, instead of "high-precision ammunition", the invaders use unguided bombs and other “medieval” methods.

This opinion was expressed by Oleksiy Melnyk, Co-director of the Razumkov Centre’s Foreign Relations and International Security Programmes and military expert, in an exclusive interview with OBOZREVATEL.

Oleksiy Melnyk

Co-Director, Foreign Relations and International Security Programmes, Coordinator of International Projects


Born in 1962 in Khmelnytsty Rgn

Education:

Royal College of Defence Studies, London, UK (2007)

Air Field Operations Officer School, Biloxy, MS, US (2001)

Squadron Officer School, Montgomery, AL, US (1994)

Defence Language Institute, San Antonio, TX, US (1994)

Chernihiv Higher Military Air Force Academy, Ukraine (1984)

Employment:

1980 – 2001 — Air Force Active Service (Cadet, Instructor Pilot, Flight Commander, Squadron Commander, Deputy Air Force Base Commander, Participant of two UN peacekeeping operations, Lt.Colonel (Ret)

2001 – 2004 — Razumkov Centre

2004 – 2005 — State Company Ukroboronservice

2005 – 2008 — Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, Head Organisational and Analytical Division — First Assistant to Minister of Defence

(044) 201-11-95

melnyk@razumkov.org.ua

oleksiy.melnyk